Comparison

Lock In vs ByWhen

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Lock In

This app helps you block distracting applications and manage your daily tasks with a built-in Pomodoro timer and planner. It guides you through setting goals, planning your day, and focusing on what matters to improve productivity and reduce screen time.

Highlights
  • App Lock & Blocker
  • Pomodoro Focus Timer
  • Smart Daily Planner
  • Task Vault & To-Do List
  • Distraction Diagnosis
  • Digital Detox Mode
Features
Read full description

Lock In: Block Apps, Stay Focused, Get More Done Tired of endless scrolling, screen time overload, and unfinished to do lists? Lock In - App Lock Focus Timer is the productivity app that actually works. Block distracting apps, plan your day, and crush your goals with a built-in Pomodoro timer, daily planner, and powerful app blocker — all in one. Whether you're a student studying for exams, a professional managing deadlines, or anyone with ADHD looking for structure, Lock In helps you take control of your digital habits and focus on what matters. Why You'll Love Lock In: - App Lock & Blocker: Block distracting apps during focus sessions using Screen Time. Stay locked in — no temptation, no willpower needed. Unlock any time if you must.* - Pomodoro Focus Timer: Study and work in proven focused intervals. Customize session lengths from classic 25-minute Pomodoro blocks to longer deep work sessions.* - Smart Daily Planner: Define one main priority and up to three secondary tasks each day. Simple, clear, stress-free planning through the guided Check-In.* - Task Vault & To-Do List: Store all your tasks, ideas, and homework in one place. Turn an overwhelming to do list into manageable, actionable steps.* - Study Timer & Motivation: Ideal for students and learners. Focused study sessions with motivating animations, calming visuals, and rewarding breaks.* How Lock In Works: 1) Set Your Goal: Answer quick lifestyle questions to understand your distraction patterns and set your first focus goal. 2) Build Your Task Vault: Add tasks, homework, ideas, or reminders into your personal Task Vault.* 3) Plan Your Day: Each evening, use the guided daily planner Check-In to set tomorrow's priorities — creating clarity and calm.* 4) Lock In & Focus: Start your focus session with app blocking, engaging animations, and timed Pomodoro intervals. Distractions blocked, productivity unlocked.* 5) Reflect & Improve: Finish each day with reflections, track progress on the interactive Progress Feed, and celebrate your achievements.* Key Features: - Distraction Diagnosis: Understand your screen time and distraction patterns to set a meaningful focus goal. - Digital Detox Mode: Block notifications and apps to sharpen your concentration and reduce screen time.* - Customizable Pomodoro Timer: Tailor session lengths to your productivity style — from quick 15-minute sprints to extended deep work.* - Progress Feed: See your completed tasks, focus sessions, and streaks in one inspiring place.* - Goal Tracker: Set, monitor, and achieve your daily and weekly productivity goals.* Turn productivity from overwhelming to enjoyable. Whether you're blocking apps, planning your schedule, studying for homework, or taking control of screen time, Lock In transforms your routine into something you genuinely look forward to. Download Lock In - App Lock Focus Timer today and unlock your potential, one focused task at a time! Support & Important Information Questions or ideas? Email us at support@marcado.io. *PREMIUM FEATURE — SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED. TERMS: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

ByWhen

Features
Read full description

A deadline is not just a date. It is a promise your future self needs help keeping. ByWhen helps you turn important tasks into practical reminder plans. Instead of relying on one alert, ByWhen looks at what needs to be done, when it is due, how long it may take, what kind of attention it needs, and when your day has realistic space for it. Add a task, set the due date, estimate the effort, choose the task type, and ByWhen helps you stay aware of the work before it turns into last-minute pressure. ByWhen is built for: - Work projects with real due dates - Assignments, exams, and study sessions - Calls, forms, paperwork, and admin tasks - Errands that need time away from home or work - Personal tasks that are easy to postpone - Daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, and selected-day routines DEADLINE PLANS ByWhen helps you think beyond a simple due date. It considers time remaining, estimated effort, task priority, task type, and available windows in your day. A short call can fit differently than a focused work session. An errand that requires leaving home can be treated differently from a quick task you can do during a break. REMINDERS WITH CONTEXT ByWhen keeps the deadline visible as time passes. It highlights whether a task is on track, needs attention, is at risk, or has become critical. If you do not act on a reminder right away, the task remains part of your plan so you can return to it later. OPEN-TIME PLANNING With your permission, ByWhen can use calendar busy blocks to avoid suggesting times that are already occupied. You can choose what to include, ignore imported blocks, and keep control of your schedule. ROUTINE SETTINGS Set your wake time, sleep time, work hours, and workdays so reminder timing fits your real life. ByWhen can avoid unhelpful times and protect parts of the day when reminders would not make sense. TASK TYPES Different tasks need different kinds of time. ByWhen supports task types such as focused work, admin, calls, study, errands, and away-from-home tasks. This helps ByWhen suggest more realistic moments instead of treating every reminder the same way. REPEATING TASKS Create repeating tasks for daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or selected days of the week. When you complete a repeating task, ByWhen moves the next cycle forward so you are not reminded again for the period you already finished. QUICK ACTIONS Act from a reminder when possible. Start work, be reminded later, log time, or mark the task done so your plan can stay up to date. PRIVATE BY DESIGN ByWhen is built with privacy in mind. Your tasks, schedule blocks, routine settings, and reminder plans stay on your device. No account is required to start. If you choose to export a backup, it goes to your own selected destination. BYWHEN PREMIUM Your first 7 days are ByWhen Premium. During this time, all smart planning features are available. ByWhen Premium keeps every reminder active and unlocks the full planning experience, including unlimited active reminders, deadline plans, open-time planning, task-specific reminder styles, repeating tasks, quick actions, and routine personalization. After the first 7 days, your reminders stay safe, but Premium is required to keep all smart reminders active. Download ByWhen and give your deadlines a plan you can trust. Privacy Policy: https://nionlite.com/bywhen-privacy.html Terms of Use: https://nionlite.com/bywhen-terms.html

Screenshots

Lock In4 screens
ByWhen4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: ByWhen at every 3 days against Lock In's weekly. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Lock In sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and ByWhen sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lock In ships an update weekly, ByWhen every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Lock In versus ByWhen: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLock InByWhen
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size59 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMARCUS ALEXANDER DOMANNNiONlite LLC

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Lock In

Subscriptions6
  • Lock-In Premium$2.997 Days
  • Lock-In Premium$6.991 Month
  • Premium3 Days trial$17.991 Year
Show 3 more
  • Lock-In Premium3 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Lock-In Premium$19.991 Year
  • Lock-In Premium3 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time3
  • Lock In - Lifetime Access$19.99
  • Lock-In Premium Lifetime$24.99
  • Lock-In Premium Lifetime$49.99
2 purchases

ByWhen

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Premium$4.991 Month
  • Annual Premium$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Lock In free?
Lock In is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ByWhen free?
ByWhen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Lock In or ByWhen have ads?
Neither Lock In nor ByWhen shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lock In or ByWhen?
Lock In ships an update weekly, and ByWhen every 3 days. Most recently, Lock In was updated on October 13, 2026 and ByWhen on October 5, 2026.

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